Aquatic Habitat Restoration

Environment and Climate Change Canada is working with Batchewana First Nation to advance proposed aquatic habitat restoration on Whitefish Island. Restoration may include naturalization of channel bed and bank areas, as well as construction of islands and shoals east of the main island. The objective is to restore and create habitat important to native fish species including Brook Trout, Whitefish and Walleye.

Beach Closings Redesignation Report

The Stage 2 Remedial Action Plan identifies three actions needed to address the Beach Closings BUI. They include reducing stormwater infiltration at the East End Wastewater Treatment Plan (Action PS-2), upgrading the East End Wastewater Treatment Plant to include secondary treatment (Action PS-3), and the assessment of potential health risks resulting from floating contaminated masses (Action NPSM-7). In 2017, the RAP Coordinator finalized a re-designation report with the recommendation that this BUI be changed to a “Not Impaired” status. It accounts for significant improvements the significant improvements in overall water quality and efforts to address sources of E.coli to the AOC, including a stormwater management plan created by the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

St. Marys River Water Quality

A study conducted by Algoma University from 2013-2015 found no large algal blooms or high concentrations of microscopic algae. No nutrients measured fell within the range exhibited by eutrophic waters, which is a good sign considering inputs from a large oligotrophic lake such as Lake Superior. There was also no evidence of unnatural colour, odour, or turbidity indicating resolved problems associated with degraded aesthetics.